Stakes high as Rugby World Cup race enters home straight

Winner of three-way contest to stage 2023 tournament selected on November 15th

Various ministers, bid directors and former internationals from Ireland, France and South Africa put forward their case for hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2023. Video: Reuters

Ireland, France and South Africa’s bidding teams made their presentations to the World Rugby Council last Monday. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho

As we enter the decisive home straight in the three-way contest to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the prize at stake is simply enormous. Aside from the sporting legacy it will leave, the largesse accrued to the respective bidding economies ranges in estimate from €1.5 billion in Ireland to €1.75 billion in South Africa and €2.44 billion in France.